Clamping device.



W. M. STUMP.

CLAMPING DEVICE.

APPLICATlbN HLED vac/1a, 1916.

Patented Nov. '27, 1917.

VII

UTE Saws AN nun WILLIAM 1V1. STUMP, F TALENT, OREGON.

OLAMPING DEVICE.

misses,

Application filed December 23, 1916.

To aZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM M. STUMP, a citizen of the United States, residin at Talent, in the county of Jackson and S tate of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamping Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in clamping devices, and one that can be used for various purposes, such as suspending objects or ornaments from walls, or in connectionwith cables, rods, or other devices where adjustments are to be made, and my object is to provide a supporting rod, by means of which the clamping mechanism be suspended. from a wall, or other suitable point, andmount thereon a frame to which are pivotally attached clamping dogs for engagement with the supporting rod. e

-A further object is to provide means for causing a suspended object to operate the clamping dogs, whereby the supporting rod will he gripped and the frame held in adjusted position on the supporting rod.

A further object is to provide-means for readily elevating 0r lowering the frame upon the supporting rod.

And a further object is-to provide means for causing the clamping dogs to readily grip the supportingrods. 1

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the accompanying specification. 1

In the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the clamp showing parts thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the clamp, and

Fig. 4 is horizontal sectional view through the clamping dogs and their pivotal connections, showing a slightly modified form of the clamping dogs.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a supporting rod, the upper end of which is preferably formed into an eye 2 which may be engaged with a hook, or

mama nevi at, 1e17,

Serial No. 138,658.

other object, to suspend the supporting rod, the lower end of the supporting rod being extended through a cross head 3 and attached thereto in any suitable manner, as by means of nuts 4.

Slidably mounted upon the rod 1 is a frame 5, said frame having a transverse cavity 6 in which are pivotally mounted the inner ends of clamping dogs 7, said inner ends having serrated cam faces 8 which are adapted to engage the supporting rod 1 and hold the frame from descending upon the supporting rod so long as the serrated edges of the cam faces are gripped into engagement with the supporting rod. The cam faces of the clamping dogs are brought into positive engagement with the supporting rod 1 by providing a strap 9, to which are pivoted links 10, the opposite ends of the links being in turn pivotally attached to the outer ends of the clamping dogs 7, whereby when a downward pull is given to the strap 9, the cam faces ofthe clamping dogs will be forced into engagement with the supporting rod. a The lower end of the strap 9 has attached thereto a suspension rod 11 to which the object to be suspended is attached, the weight of the object pulling downwardly upon the strap 9 serving to hold the cam faces of the clamping dogs into engagement with the supporting rod with suflicient force to hold the frame 5 against movement on the rod, the strap 9 being held in alinement with the supporting rod 1 and frame 5 by providing a lateral extension 12 in the strap 9 at a point above the pivotal connection with thelinks 1O with the strap the remaining portion ofthe strap extending along the rear face of the frame to apoint beyond the upper end thereof, the extreme upper end of the strap having a right angular extension 13,the extensions 12 and 13 having registering bores through which the supporting rod 1 extends, thereby holding the strap in perfect alinement with the rod 1 at all times.

In order to readily move the frame upwardly or downwardly upon the supporting rod without removing the object which is supported by the suspension rod 11, an ad justing rod 14 is attached to the rear of the frame 5 through the medium of a clip 15, and by pushing or pulling upon the adjusting rod 14 the frame and parts carried thereby may be readily moved up wardly or downwardly on the supporting rod, the downward movement of the adjusting rod causing the frame 5 toidescend a'sufficient distance independently of the strap 9 to release the cam faces 8 from the supporting rod, and as soon as the downwardpull on the adjusting rod 1 L is released, the frame 5 is again moved slightly upward independently of the strap 9 by means of a spring 16 surrounding the supporting rod 1 between the annular extension 12 and the lower end of the frame 5. The lower ends of the rods 11 and 1 1: are introduced through the respective ends of the cross head 3, thereby retaining said rods in alinement with the supporting rod 1.

In operation, the upper end of the sup- 7 porting rod 1 is anchored to a wall, or other suitable object and a picture, orother ornament, attached to the lower end'of the suspension rod 11, when the adjusting rod 1 f isoperated to raise the picture to the proper elevation, and when so adjusted, the rod l lisreleased, whereupon the weight of the pictureiwill instantly imovc the cam faces 8 of the clamping dogs into engagement withthe supporting rod and thus hold the picture in its adjusted position.

i If itvis desired at any time to raise the picture to a higher elevation, the adjusting rod 1 is grasped and moved upwardly, and if it is desired to lowerthepicture, a downward t pull is given the adjusting rod, which will result in releasing the cam faces from vthe supporting rod, thus permitting the frame and parts carried thereby to descend, and upon releasing the pull upon the I adjusting'rod, the spring 16 will-act to cause the cam faces to immediately grip the supporting rod and prevent furtherdescent ofthe same. i a x Instead of using the device for support- 7 ing objects, the same may be employed for securing together the ends of' cables or attached to rods, and in fact may-be used in any suitable manner asmay be desired.

andfor which the same is applicable.

, In Fig. 4 will be seen a slightlyimodified form of construction ofthe jawsof the clamping dogs 7. In thisinstance, eaclrof the serrated faces 8 are grooved and partially embrace the rod 1 in order that a more eifectiverbite may be had therewith.

I claim 1. 1am clamp, the combination with a supporting rod, of a frame slidable on said rod, a pair of clamping dogspivotally mounted in said'frame, the inner end of the clamping'dogs'having cam faces adapted to interlock with the supporting rod, a strap having right angular extensions througlrwhich said supporting rod extends, said frame being mounted between said extensions, links pivoted at one 1 end to said strap and at their opposite ends. to the outer endsof said clamping dogs, a suspension rod carried by jsaid strap [adapted to interlock the cam faces with vthe supporting rod when an object is placed uponthe suspension rod, and an adjusting rod attached to the frame adapted; to be operated to raise or lower the frame upon thesupporting rod.

2. Ina clamp, the combination with a frame, of a pair of clamping dogs pivotally mounted to the frame, said clamping dogs having cam faces at their innerends adapted to engage an object introduced through the frame and between .the ends of the clamping dogs, av strap independently movable of the frame, 1 links connecting said strap'to the outer ends oftheolamping dogs, whereby whena downward pull is given to the strap, the cam faces of the locking dogs will be caused to grip the objectqbetween In testimony whereof 'I have: ;signed my name to this specification in; th eipresence of two! subscribing witnesses. V i

IVILLIAIWI M. STUMP. Witnesses: A I i .EMMET Eurasian,-

n13. Ali-A son.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five'ce nts each, by addressing the submis i f ha i Washington, D. 6. i 

